Travelling

flag Libya Libya: Travelling

In this page: Entry Requirements | Organising Your Trip | Visiting | Living Conditions | Eating | Paying | Speaking | Useful Resources

 

Entry Requirements

Passport and Visa Service
Documents and formalities necessary to obtain a visa
For Further Information
Embassies of Libya and Embassies in Libya
 
Check IATA Travel Website for visa requirements and health advices.
 

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Organising Your Trip


Transportation From Airport to City Centre:


Airport

Distance

Taxi

Bus

Train

Car Rental
Tripoli (TIP) 24 km / 15 miles LYD 20-25 / 30 min - - Available

Major airlines

Name Type Domestic Flights International Flights
Afriqiyah Airways International Yes Yes
Libyan Airlines National Yes Yes

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

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Visiting

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical
Libya contains the remains of several Greek and Roman cities, some of which are classified by UNESCO. They are:
- the Greco-Roman site of Leptis Magna in Tripoli.
- the Sabratha amphitheatre,
- the ruins of Shabbat
- the Fezzan rock paintings
Cultural
Cultural tourism in Libya can be symbolized by the Tripoli Museum which, on four levels, covers the history of Libya, from its first prehistoric inhabitants up to the Qadhafi years. The most remarkable collections are those of Roman mosaics, statues from the great cities of Antiquity, the Fezzan rock paintings, the traditional culture of the Bedouins and Tuaregs, and objects from the medieval period.
Nature
The Libyan deserts are very impressive. You absolutely should visit them. You can see two main deserts, the Akakus and the Fezzan. The Desert of Akakus, on the Algerian border, has been a UNESCO Heritage Site since 1985. There are thousands of rock paintings in very different styles, and the most ancient of them date from about 12 000 years BC. The most recent ones date from the first century.

You can also see the Desert of Fezzan which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. There is a salt-water lake, or Lake Mavo, known for being a lake which changes color. In the South, the region is scattered with oases.

Religious
Libyan mosques are very interesting to visit. They have characteristic roofs with domes, first found in Libya almost a thousand years ago. They are on all buildings, from the most ancient to the mosques of the nineteenth century.
Thermal
Nonexistent.
Beach
Libya has many sandy and rocky beaches on the Mediterranean coast.
Winter Sports
Nonexistent.
Outdoor Activities
Trekking in the desert.
Shopping
It is worthwhile bringing home craft items from the souks.

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Living Conditions

Health and Safety

Health Precautions
A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers coming from affected areas.

DTP and Hepatitis A vaccinations are strongly recommended for any stay in Libya, as are Typhoid, Hepatitis B and Rabies vaccinations if your stay is a longer one.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions
Advice for travelers on this bi-lingual Canadian website
 

Emergency Numbers

Emergency services 193
 

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Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference
It is %T:%M %A In Tripoli (GMT+2)
Summer Time Period
GMT + 1
 

Map of the Time Zone

Time zone

Type of Climate
Libya is arid except for the Mediterranean coastal strip. The climate is humid and hot in summer on the coastal strip and dry and scorching in the interior. Winter is cold on the coast.
Hotel reservation websites
Weather and climate in Libya
 

Average Annual Temperatures and Rainfall

Climate

 

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Eating

Food Specialties
In Libya there are many vegetable or hummus based hors-d'oeuvres. (Hummus is a chick pea purée.) The Libyan main course is accompanied by a salad or a traditional soup, chorba. The most common dishes are grilled chicken, lamb kebabs, lamb chops and escalopes. You can also find couscous.

Desserts are very sweet and use honey, dates and walnuts.

Drinks
There is no alcohol in Libya. On the other hand, there are various fizzy drinks and fruit juices. Fresh mint tea is very common. Coffee is served Turkish-style or in larger quantities and weaker.
Dietary Restrictions
The Muslim religion partly regulates the dietary customs of the Libyans and, in this respect, alcohol and pork are prohibited.

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Paying

Domestic Currency
Lybian Dinar
ISO Code
LYD
To Obtain Domestic Currency
The Libyan currency is the Libyan Dinar (LYD). The rate of exchange is established using a basket of SDR currencies with a fluctuation margin of 25%.
Possible Means of Payment
Most credit cards are only taken in large hotels. Traveler's cheques are difficult to cash, even with a passport. The best thing is to take a reserve of American dollars or Euros in cash.

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Speaking

Official Language
Arabic
Other Languages Spoken
English, Italian.
Business Language
English

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Useful Resources

To Find a Job
Gulf Talent : jobs in Libya

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Latest Update: March 2025